NBA Trade Deadline: Heat trade Brian Roberts to Blazers
By Tom West
The Miami Heat have traded Brian Roberts to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for cash considerations ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Another NBA trade deadline deal, and it’s another backup guard who’s on the move. Yet again, there’s no blockbuster to report, but the Miami Heat have made another move be sending point guard Brian Roberts to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski has reported the deal, highlighting that Miami also included a second-round draft pick.
MIami has traded guard Brian Roberts and a second-round pick to Portland, league source tells @TheVertical
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2016
For the Heat, this makes little difference to their actual roster. In fact, if you haven’t been following the minor trades, they acquired Roberts just two days ago in a three-team trade from the Charlotte Hornets (the other team involved were the Memphis Grizzlies). Now, he’s on his way yet again as part of another financial move for the Heat.
Heat sending 2021 second round pick to Portland and Brian Roberts in exchange for cash considerations. Heat now under luxury tax.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) February 18, 2016
Before even considering their dilemma of what to do with soon-to-be free agent Hassan Whiteside, the Heat also need to sort out Dwyane Wade’s contract situation. He’s currently making $20 million and while he isn’t The Flash anymore, he’ll still command a big contract as the face of the franchise with the rising salary cap.
Meanwhile, Portland are also doing exactly what they need to by acquiring future assets. After losing so many starters last summer, they’re left with a top backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to build around. The more draft picks they acquire the better, because thanks to having a mere $14.1 million estimated payroll for 2016-17 (potentially leaving them around $76 million in cap space), they’re in a great place to reload their roster.
In Roberts, the Blazers aren’t getting more than a backup point guard. He’s a solid pickup, though, who shoots 48.8 percent from 16-24 feet, averages 15.7 points and 4.1 assists per 36 minutes, has a low turnover rate and is a reliable ball handler in pick-and-rolls.
After giving up only cash in return, this is a great move for the Blazers, albeit a minor one. If they’re able to land some top free agents with their ton of cap space this summer, they’re well on their way up the Western Conference.